History : a very short introduction / John H. Arnold. Arnold, John, 1969- History Philosophy. History Methodology. Historiography. 901 ARH Includes bibliographical references and index. Do historians reconstruct the truth or simply tell stories? This book suggests that they do both, and the balance between 'truth' and 'story' is tremendously important to history. Taking us from the fabulous tales of ancient Greek historians to the varied approaches of modern professionals, this book illuminates our relationships to the past by making us aware of how 'history' has changed as a subject. Concepts such as periodization and causation are discusses, but not in a dry or abstract fashion. Instead this book works through particular historical examples - including a medieval murderer, a seven-century colonist, and ex-slave women - to illustrate and explain the ways in which we study and understand history, giving the reader a science of the excitement of discovering not only the past, but also ourselves. Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2000. 2000. 2000 Text 134 p. : eng Very short introductions Very short introductions